Chapter XXVII

Alec looked for the king, and the servants told him he was taking a bath, so he headed to the bathroom, and the guards opened the door. A wave of steam welcomed him inside as well as a fragrance of fresh roses. Kenneth was sitting in the large tub, his legs under the warm water and his arms on the sides. His eyes were closed, and his long hair untied, letting the blond tips soak in the water. The court ladies filled more buckets with rose water and splashed it slowly around the king. To Alec's displeasure, one of them knelt beside him and started massaging his shoulders. Kenneth let out a groan as her hands rubbed behind his neck, and Alec frowned as he was confused that the king agreed to be touched by someone else. He walked around the tub, and he gulped when he saw rose petals sticking on his neck, his chest, and his shoulders. He could not help but feel his body get warmer, and it was not only because of the steam.  Kenneth was a handsome man. It was difficult not to look a